Romeria is a type of yearly, short-distance Roman Catholic religious pilgrimage practiced in the Iberian Peninsula and countries formerly colonized by Spain and Portugal. The term comes from "romero" or "romeiro," meaning a person traveling to Rome. The traveling can be done in cars, floats, on horseback, or on foot, and its destination is a sanctuary or hermitage consecrated to a religious figure honored in that day's feast. Romerias are a type of harvest festival which has its roots in a mix of Pagan and Christian beliefs. They are usually in honor of a saint who has been "helpful" with the harvest, although celebrations themselves are more unbridled fun than religious reflection. They involve a procession involving carts filled with food and wine, locals wearing traditional costumes with more colors than a rainbow, musicians, dancers, and lots of animals. In the Canary Islands, the Romerias are a unique event, with nearly 35,000 danzantes representing native dance troupes leading the procession to Zapopan. The Romerias de Tenerife are a series of festivals that take place throughout the year, with the oldest being the Romería de Nuestra Señora del Socorro in Guimar, which has over one hundred years of celebrations. Romerias are a world of difference between experiencing a romería and simply re-hashing the official blurb, which usually says things like "this is one of the oldest and most important fiestas in the Canary Islands"... for all of them.